20. Audi RS4 (B7 Second Generation)
In 2007 the Audi RS4 won the “World Performance Car” award. Among its competitors, we had Porsches, Ferraris and Jaguars. Do we need to add anything else?
Design: Based on the A4 B chassis, the RS4 is practically a racing car masked under an executive station wagon frame. Simple yet beautiful.
Performance: Powered by a 4.2-litre engine, with 8 cylinders in V formation, it produces an output of 414 horse power. It accelerates from 0-60 mph (0-100 km/h) in 4,2 seconds, and it also comes with Audi’s Dynamic Ride Control to provide an even better driving experience.
Chick Factor: High. Some women just don’t like the aggressive look of sporsts car. That is where the RS4 comes handy: elegant style and stunning performance.
19. Lotus Elise Series 2
The British manufacturer Lotus Cars has a unique concept for sports car: “performance through light weight.” Introduced in 2000, the Lotus Elise Series 2 definitely took the Lotus family to a whole new level.
Design: The Lotus Elise packs an aggressive design, despite it’s small frame. The car is 3,8 meters long and it weights less than a ton (from 860 to 910 kilograms). It also comes with a fiberglass body shell.
Performance: Considering that the car features a modest 1.8-litre, 4-cylinders engine, one would not expect much, right? Wrong! This baby can go from 0-60 mph (0-100 km/h) in 4,7 seconds, and it has a top of speed of 150 mph (240 km/h). Given its light weight, you should also have a good time braking and cornering it.
Chick Factor: Low. Some chicks like roadsters, other do not. If you want a car to impress the ladies, though, the Lotus Elise is probably not the best choice. It is, hmm… just small.
18. Ford Shelby Cobra GT500
The legendary partnership between Ford and Carroll Shelby dates back to the early 1960s. Ford would produce the Mustangs, and the Shelby factory would modify them. The result? Some of best performing muscle cars of all time. In 2007 they renewed the deal releasing the Shelby GT500.
Design: The two companies managed to revive the Mustang prestige with the GT500 model. The red and white body colors are classic, with the “Le Mans” stripes going from nose to tail. Aggressive look as usual, featuring a new front line and air splitters.
Performance: The Shelby GT500 comes with a 5.4-litre, DOHC V8 engine, producing 500 horse power. It can accelerate from 0-60 mph (0-100km/h) in 4.5 seconds. The car also features a suspension kit and other improvements from Ford’s Special Vehicle Team (SVT).
Chick Factor: High. Mustangs are a legend and a tradition of the American sports cars scene. If on top of that you go around with a Shelby GT500, you sure will make an impact.
17. Subaru Impreza STi
Subaru introduced the Impreza 1993 as a compact car. It’s chassis, however, became very successful on rally championships, and in 1994 Subaru launched the STi version, bringing considerable improvements to the car.
Design: The car has been immortalized on the blue frame with gold colored wheels by rally drivers, and it also comes with a rear spoiler and hood vents. Definitely not the right car to share with your woman or go to the supermarket with.
Performance: The UK Impreza STi Turbo version has 215 bhp and it can go from 0-60 mph (0-100 km/h) in 4,9 seconds. Consider that most of its parts (e.g., brakes, suspensions, transmission) already come tuned for racing performance.
Chick Factor: Low. Unless you participate in street racing, chicks will probably not find this car very inviting. If you tune the design a lot it would also probably look lame on a normal city ride.
16. Porsche 911 (996 Series GT3)
Talk about myth. On an international poll to vote the car of the century the Porsche 911 came fifth. Introduced in 1963, this car is a hallmark of the sports car industry (and one of the most acclaimed Porsches ever).
Design: The GT3 version has a very aggressive, racing look. Light materials were used for its production, and it does not have rear seats. The aerodynamics were also carefully studied to glue the car on the ground.
Performance: The car comes with a 3.6-litre engine, producing 381 bhp. How fast can that toy go? Well, it accelerates from 0-60 mph (0-100 km/h) in 4,0 seconds.
Chick Factor: Huge. Americans and European have different car tastes, but park a GT3 in front of any bar in Europe and I assure you that you will come out with dozens of telephone numbers.
15. Pagani Zonda C12 S 7.3
Pagani is an Italian company that manufacturers carbon fiber and supercars. They started producing the Zonda in 1999, and only 10 units ship every year (at $400,000 a pop more or less).
Design: As you can imagine from a company that produces carbon fiber, most of the body parts of the Zonda are done with that material. It has a coupe style, with 2 seats, and very characteristic placement of side mirrors and front lights.
Performance: The C12 S 7.3 version comes with a mighty 7.3-litre engine. It is one of the biggest 12-cylinders engine ever produced. It has an output of 555 bhp and a top speed of 220 mph (350 km/h).
Chick Factor: High. Despite being a racing machine, the style of this car is quite appealing (we love Italy don’t we?). It also reveals how much it costs at a first sight (and most women get turned on by that).
